but friends of the tea party like newt gingrich, rick santorum, herman cain, rick perry and michele bachmann did. i caught up with bachmann at the state fair in 2010. she was running for re-election for congress and was at the height of her influence. >> i don't take it for granted. i don't take any election for granted. thank you. >> reporter: in 2012 not only did her support drop quickly in the presidential race, she barely won her congressional race this week. it was worse for two other tea party favorites. todd akin lost his senate race in missouri. his effort not helped by this comment. >> if it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. >> reporter: and richard mourdock lost his senate race in indiana after he said this. >> even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that god intended to happen. >> reporter: the tea party's anti-government message continues to resonate with many. but arguably, the group's policies and miscues might have cost the gop a chance to be the majority party in the u.s. senate. tea part